JAVIER MASCHERANO is expected to be slapped with a three-match ban today following his furious reaction to being sent off at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The FA’s disciplinary commission, which did not sit yesterday due to the Bank Holiday, are poised to charge the Liverpool midfielder with improper conduct after being dismissed by referee Steve Bennett for a second bookable offence.

A livid Mascherano refused to immediately leave the field and had to be restrained by team-mates and members of the Liverpool coaching staff, including manager Rafael Benitez, before being ushered down the tunnel.

The normal suspension for being sent off for two yellow cards is a one-match ban, which already rules the Argentina international out of Sunday’s Merseyside derby against Everton at Anfield.

But, given the current debate over respect for referees following Ashley Cole’s behaviour to Mike Riley last week, the FA are poised to fast-track an additional two-match ban, ruling the player out of the April 5 trip to Arsenal and the home clash with Blackburn Rovers on April 13.

However, should Mascherano request a personal hearing, any additional suspension could only be implemented until his case was heard.

And with the 23-year-old on international duty in Egypt until Thursday and then involved in the Champions League quarter-final at Arsenal

on Wednesday week, there is an outside possibility any hearing may not take place until after the Premier League visit to the Emirates three days later.

Mascherano yesterday apologised to his team-mates for his sending-off – but revealed he remains in the dark as to why he was red-carded at Old Trafford.

The Argentine, who had already been booked for a foul on Paul Scholes, approached referee Bennett after Fernando Torres had been cautioned for dissent.

While television replays suggested Mascherano did use foul and abusive language, the official nevertheless brandished a second yellow for dissent and subsequent red.

Liverpool, who were a goal behind at the time of the 44th-minute dismissal, went on to lose 3-0.

But Mascherano said: “I do not know why I was sent off.

“I asked the referee what was happening. I did not swear, I was not aggressive and I did not confront him.

“All I did was ask him what was happening, nothing else. So when he showed me the second yellow card and sent me off I could not believe it.

“I am sorry to my team-mates because that meant we went down to 10 men and that made things even more difficult for us.”

Meanwhile, Torres joined up with the Spain squad yesterday ahead of their friendly with Italy on Wednesday.

But the Liverpool striker, who was substituted on Sunday after suffering knocks to his ribs and ankle, sat out the training session in Elche and is a doubt for the game.

Liverpool’s reserves lifted the 2008 Dallas Cup with a 3-0 victory over Mexican side Tigres. Two goals from Krisztian Nemeth and one from Martin Kelly clinched the U19 Super Group trophy.